Montana State is about halfway through spring practice, and it seems as if about half the team is sidelined because of injuries and personal issues.

“It’s tough, but I don’t want the message to be that we’re crying down here about being hurt. We’re not,” MSU head coach Rob Ash said. “We’re coaching the guys who are healthy and we’re getting after it and having a good spring with the guys who can play.”

The Bobcats, who will be in Great Falls next weekend for the annual Triangle Classic, a weekend’s worth of fundraising and activities that include a full-scale scrimmage at Memorial Stadium, have certainly suffered their share of injuries. What was scheduled as a scrimmage this morning at 10:30 will instead be a practice without much live hitting.

“We’re very, very beat-up,” said Ash, adding that today’s workout at Bobcat Stadium in Bozeman will be a controlled-tempo affair, without much tackling to the ground. “We’ll have 20 or 25 live plays at the end of the practice, just to get a little feel of moving the ball down the field. It will still be 11-on-11 and still be very spirited, but it won’t be finishing with tackles.”

Ash said there are 16 projected starters or key contributors sidelined for the duration of spring practice. There are 10 others limited to practice sans contact.

“So that’s 26 of our 75 or 80,” Ash said. “That’s a lot. And quite a few are good players.”

The list includes receiver Kurt Davis, running back Brandon Davis, defensive lineman Robert Wilcox and linebacker Wyatt Christianson (all knees). Quarterback Quinn McQueary (lower back), who was expected to be among four vying for the starting job, is also out.

In addition, quarterback Tanner Roderick is not practicing this week. The Bozeman native transferred from Nevada a year ago and played some receiver in an injury-plagued campaign last fall. This spring the former Hawks’ superstar QB has been given the opportunity to battle for the starting job vacated by graduated four-year starter DeNarius McGhee.

“Tanner had some things come up that he needed to take care of,” Ash said. “We’re hoping to get him back on Tuesday.”

That leaves just Dakota Prukop and Great Falls native Jake Bleskin at the quarterback position.

“Those three guys, (Roderick), Prukop and Jake were having a good battle the first two weeks, and now it’s just Jake and Dakota,” Ash said. “So they’ve had a real good opportunity to get some snaps. You can see the guys get better with the additional snaps. That’s how we have to look at it, the progress we’re making with the guys who are out there. And it’s been pretty substantial.”

However, Ash said the QB competition will continue.

“It’s pretty open,” Ash said. “Roderick is rusty, I think, as a quarterback. But he’s coming along. He’s still definitely in the mix. We’re going to keep this thing open, wide open, until deep into August.”

When asked about particular bright spots this spring, Ash pointed to several of his freshmen.

“Guys like (running back) Nick LaSane and (receiver) Jayshawn Gates on offense have done really well,” Ash said. “On defense, Khari Garcia and Bryce Keeton (transfer from Nevada) have looked very good back there in the secondary. They’ve been fun to watch and have played well.

“Our O-Line is a veteran group and I’ve been happy with them so far. Tight ends, too. They’ve been very solid.”

Devereaux surprised the MSU staff by deciding to leave the team just prior to the advent of spring practice.

Joel Horn, a 320-pound junior from Kalispell, has been working at center. Versatile senior star Quinn Catalano, who is capable of playing several spots on the offensive front, could also slide to the center spot with junior backup Alex Eekhoff moving to a starting spot at tackle.

“The battle really is between Joel and Alex,” Ash said.

All the top-line MSU receivers are sidelined, a group that includes Flotkoetter, Dash, Davis and Kalfell.

The good news is this:

“Right now, everybody on the squad should be 100 percent healthy by August. Except for Robert Wilcox, who just tore his ACL last week,” Ash said. “He’ll miss the whole season.”

Ash said linebacker Na’a Moeakiola, a 2012 all-Big Sky performer who missed last year with a shoulder injury, is not taking part in contact drills but has looked good and is providing excellent leadership. He is expected to key a strong defense that features a lot of experience in the back end.

“I like the looks of the secondary,” Ash added. “With Rob Marshall and (Eryon) Barnett and (Deonte) Flowers all returning (to the starting lineup). Then we’ve got James Nelson and Bryson Keeton competing for that other corner spot. Khari Garcia and Cody Cleveland are the backup safeties, along with Caleb Price at the other corner … We’re two-deep in the secondary. Those guys are looking pretty good.”

The Triangle Classic has been a huge success for more than a decade in Great Falls. Ash said his entire team looks forward to the trip north.

“It’s always fun for them. They like having the banquet and they like having a little break in the routine,” Ash said.

The scrimmage next Saturday will start about 1:30, Ash said, and will last about an hour.